Question

In an examination, $70$% of the candidates passed in English, $80$% passed in Mathematics and $10$% failed in both these subjects. If $144$ candidates passed in both then the total number of candidates was

• A. $125$
• B. $200$
• C. $240$
• D. $375$

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

$240$

Let the total number of candidates be $x$.

Given that $70\%$ of $x$ passed in English and $80\%$ of $x$ passed in Maths.
$144$ passed in both English and Maths and $10\%$ of $x$ failed in both English and Maths.

$\therefore 90\%$ of $x$ passed in English and Maths both

$\therefore 90\%$ of $x=70\%+80\%$ of $(x-144)$.

$\Rightarrow 60\%$ of $x=144$

$\Rightarrow x=\frac{144\times 100}{60}=240$